Sunday 10th September

Well, I think the worst of Irma has blown through…..

We have had no power all day long, no WiFi, elevators, nor air conditioning. It has been incredibly noisy, with monsoon rains, and super strong winds, with a tornado warning. We were not allowed outside, due to the danger of flying projectiles. Many tree limbs are on the ground, as well as fencing and garbage bins. 

The only light was the emergency lighting in the hotel lobby: our room, on the ninth floor, meant a breathless hike, up a dark stairwell, (we had torches), into a dark corridor, back to our dark, warm room.

The WiFi came back on briefly at midday, so we were able to contact concerned family. The power resumed at seven in the evening, so the air con is now working overtime to get rid of the funky smells. 

The elevators are not yet in service: during the heavy rain, water was pouring down the lift shafts, so work is ongoing to resume normal working order.

What we do not have is water in the bathroom, so that might be a problem…..

There is also no WiFi this evening….

It has been a long day, but we are safe. It has not been so for many others, and thoughts are with those who have not fared as well as we have.

I don’t know if you could have coped with all this my darling. Maybe you would…..

We miss you terribly.

Sweetheart Angel son

xxxxxx

Rain and wind lashing east to west….

It’s not safe out there…..

The pool area is being battered…..

Many tree limbs are being blown down….

We need some fresh air, after being cooped up all day….

Saturday 9th September
   

Sitting around, waiting

Listening to sounds, raining

Watching palms, swaying

No one around, driving

Fingers on counter, tapping

Television, daunting

Weather reports, shocking

Hurricane watch, ongoing

My love for you, enduring

Beloved Angel son

xxxxxx

Gift shop closed

Pool closed

Midday excitement ~ a fire in an auto parts unit, opposite the hotel

Palm trees ~ again

The roads are very quiet this evening

Friday 8th September

Afternoon update…….we will not be evacuated from the hotel…….such a big sigh of relief, as we did not particularly fancy hunkering down in an overcrowded shelter. 

We have been told to keep the heavy blackout curtains pulled from tomorrow morning, to take shelter in the corridors or ballroom during the height of the hurricane, be aware that power may be lost ~ no television, WiFi, elevators, nor air conditioning.

The hotel will look after us with torches, food and bottles of water.

We do now feel safe, especially since there are six police officers staying here as well.

Our car is on the first floor of a multi storey car park, so should be ok too.

We walked across the road at midday to a garage which was still selling fuel, and went in to have a snack, drink and to pay for our lotto ticket ~ most important if there are power outages! We also used the ATM to have some more cash ~ without electricity, no electronic payments can be made. We are trying to be as prepared as possible.

The afternoon was sunny, with blue skies, about 95°F, and breezy. Sitting in the shade, beside the pool was perfect.

Thinking of you sweetie

Fly high my darling

Beloved Angel son

xxxxxx

A warm, breezy day

No evidence of the storm to come

Warm in the shade

Gazing skywards

Checking out the pool

A “nuclear hurricane”???

Thursday 7th September

Such a beautiful morning to wake up to: blue skies, warm temperatures and a gentle breeze.

We decide to make the most of the ‘calm before the storm’, and take a drive along Alligator Alley, not the whole way to the Gulf Coast, but halfway. We are mindful of the decreasing amounts of fuel available in the garages, and have seen extremely long queues of cars waiting to fill up, or yellow tape around the pumps, proclaiming no fuel at all. We also went into Walmart to buy a few items, and predictably shelves were empty of water, bread, snacks and the like.

We now seem to be biding time, until Irma arrives, and then await to see the aftermath.

Of course, we are watching, listening, taking note of the developing situation. Right now, at five thirty this afternoon, we are waiting to find out if we are to be forcibly evacuated from our hotel, here in North West Miami: it does not have toughened glass in the windows necessary to withstand the strong gusts.

All surrounding hotel rooms have been taken, or the hotels closed.

We are now looking at moving into a shelter…….

I’m not sure how you would have coped with this, my darling. Probably not very well.

We are missing you so much

Sweetheart Angel son

xxxxxx

Off to Alligator Alley….

Pretty reflections in the water of the Everglades….

Not many on the highway….

Grinch came along for the ride…..

Palm trees line the road, canals of the Everglades behind….

Wednesday 6th September

So, Irma thwarted our vacation plans, and has cut short our time in the Keys by almost a week.

A mandatory visitor evacuation for the whole of the Florida Keys began at 7:00am this morning.

Locals have to leave by 7:00pm.

All emergency services will have moved out by Friday.

We were up at 5:00am, packed, checked out, coffee and on the road by just after seven.

There was a beautiful sunrise, a calm, warm and quiet start to the morning.

There was no mad, panic exodus, but many gas stations do not have fuel, and supermarkets ran out of bottled water yesterday.

We’re now in Miami, and plan to stay here until the storm passes ~ unless the Weather Channel says otherwise…. or the state governor…..

Love you my darling

Beloved Angel son

xxxxxx

Such a pretty sunrise

Calm before the storm

So quiet on the Overseas Highway at 7:00am

Across the causeway

Bye bye Florida Keys

Early morning reflections

Now safely in our new hotel, checking out the pool

It’s partly cloudy, but warm at 85°F

Tuesday 5th September

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

It looks like Hurricane Irma is about to spoil the end of our summer vacation. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for the Keys, and all visitors must begin leaving the area at sunrise tomorrow morning.

I was beginning to enjoy ‘Island Time’ very much indeed: beautiful weather, surroundings, atmosphere and way of life. We really were becoming used to having a few days to wind down, before heading back home to England.

So, there is no question about it, no arguing, no negotiation, no chance….. ya gotta get outta here.

And it will be “Good-bye, Key Largo”. For this vacation anyway.

Not sure what you would have made of it all ~ jumping up and down, shouting orders, telling us to get a move on, and secretly loving all the drama.

Sleep tight sweetheart

Precious Angel son

xxxxxx

Oh my…

It’s on it’s way

But it’s so gorgeous here….

A chair for me, and one for you…

Don’t want to leave….

A perfect day….

Monday 4th September

I imagine we’re walking along the sand

Watching the sunset, hand in hand

Warmth of the day, shoulders tanned

Colours in the sky change, as we stand

Listening to the sounds of a steel band

Thinking of you, when life was grand

For now we exist in No Man’s Land

The path of our lives didn’t go as planned

Stuck in the mud, sinking in quicksand

But the love in my heart does expand

And I just wish that I could understand

My Angel son

Forever young

xxxxxx

Lunchtime at a roadside bar

Alabama Jack’s, Card Sound Road, Key Largo

Country and Western music and dancer

Hot, even in the shade

Our table had a waterway view

Fascinating memorabilia everywhere

Conch fritters, blackened mahi mahi, fries, salad and beers

Dad swimming in the pool, later in the afternoon

Quiet, peaceful and relaxing

Just watching the swaying palms

Enjoying the shade

Sunday 3rd September

We took a glass bottom boat trip this afternoon out to Molasses Reef, off Key Largo. It was really quite warm, but wonderful in the shade on the top of the boat. Taking forty five minutes to reach the turquoise blue waters of the reef, we were lucky to see snapper, parrot and angel fish, tang, barracuda, ray, sergeant​ major fish, and a sea turtle. 

I remember when we went on a glass bottom boat trip with you, my darling, when we were on holiday in Tobago: you were chuffed to bits at the name of the operation ~ Frank’s Glass Bottom Boat Tours.

I wish you had been with us today

Love you sweetheart

Treasured Angel son

xxxxxx

Grinch came along too…..

A nice Donzi….

A cool house…..

Turquoise blue ocean…..

A sea turtle….

In the shade….

Windy hair…..

Canals, houses and boats….

Almost back to where we started….

Saturday 2nd September

This time it’s three hours and two hundred miles down south, and we’re safely ensconced in Key Largo.

We haven’t stayed on this Key before, usually choosing Islamorada or Marathon, so there should be new places to explore, other options for dining, and different activities to try out.

Wish you were here too

You should be

Here with me

Darling Angel son

xxxxxx

Palm trees

Marina reflections

Friday 1st September

This morning was spent exploring the isolated beaches on Hutchinson Island, to the east of Port St. Lucie. Beautiful, isolated stretches of sand, with no footprints, no noise and no litter, as far as the eye could see: just the sound and movement of the breaking waves. 

Blowing kisses to heaven my Angel

Dearest, darling Angel son

xxxxxx

Entrance to Frederick Douglass Park

We are the only people on the beach

No one for miles ~ no footprints, no litter, no noise

So quiet and peaceful

Surveying the ocean

Beach flowers

An empty car park

Bathtub Reef Beach

Not much for the lifeguard to do

Bathtub Reef Beach

Protected dunes and a living reef